Dr. Leila Benali Appointed Chief Economist at Apicorp

 The Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP), a multilateral development bank, has appointed energy & commodities strategy and policy expert, Dr Leila Benali, as the Chief Economist at APICORP. Dr Benali joined from Saudi Aramco where she handled energy policy and gas strategy. Throughout her career, she successfully managed several high-value projects, and spearheaded strategy and policy formulation for governments, energy companies, industrials and institutional investors. Dr Benali has also served as a Director at IHS CERA (Cambridge Energy Research Associates), now IHSMarkit, and has also worked for Schlumberger. She taught energy courses in universities and is an active member of several energy associations.   

Commenting on the appointment, Dr. Ahmed Ali Attiga, Chief Executive Officer of APICORPsaid: “As APICORP embarks on an exciting period of growth, we are delighted to have one of the region’s most renowned energy sector experts as part of our team.  Dr. Leila Benali has established herself as a reference on energy strategy, policy and investments. Given that research is an important element in decision-making at the business and operational levels at APICORP, Dr Benali will contribute towards sustainable growth at the bank.”

Dr Benali will lead APICORP’s Energy Economics and Sustainability department ensuring it continues its trajectory as a trusted source of analysis and intelligence on energy research, investments and sustainability. 

“I am excited to join APICORP and look forward to bolstering Energy Research and combining it with the bank’s strong sense of purpose and ability to impact. I firmly believe in the values of transparency and integration, particularly in areas with political, industry or technology risks, and in the critical role multilateral institutions can play in bridging investment and funding gaps. The energy sector is reinventing itself, and I look forward to playing my part in ensuring APICORP remains at the forefront of this change,” stated Dr. Benali.

An engineer turned economist, with a pinch of political science, Dr Benali has published numerous papers and books on energy, reforms and sustainable wealth. She contributed to Energy Poverty: Global Challenges and Local Solutions, published in 2014, and hailed as “a must-read for anyone serious about creating meaningful solutions about energy poverty” by former US President Bill Clinton. She was Named as a “Future Leader 2016” by Petroleum Economist, recognizing individuals who are most likely to shape the industry’s future